Kielty laughing all way to bank

Funnyman, Patrick Kielty is all laughs as accumulated profits at his entertainment firm increased by 18pc last year, climbing to over €1m.

Accounts lodged by Kielty's Boxed Productions with Companies House in the UK show that the firm's accumulated profits to the end of March this year (2014) increased from £757,780 to £820,753 (€1m).

The abridged accounts for the firm do not provide details of revenues, salaries or if any dividends were paid in the year to the end of March 31.

Francis names sex investigator

Pope Francis has named a fellow Jesuit to be the Vatican's new sex crimes prosecutor after deciding to move the current one to be the No. 2 on his new sex abuse commission.

The Rev. Robert Geisinger, an American, is currently the top canon lawyer at the Jesuit order's headquarters in Rome.

He replaces Monsignor Robert Oliver as the "promoter of justice" at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which processes all sex abuse cases.

Monsoon flood kills 457 people

Pakistani authorities said hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing flash floods after having been warned to evacuate as the death toll from severe monsoon rains in Pakistan and neighbouring India climbed to 457 people.

Ahmad Kamal, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, said the Chenab River breached an embankment early following a warning the day before. The floods have affected more than 1.5 million people in Pakistan.

Elephant kills its rescuer

A veterinarian and co-founder of Hope Elephants, a home in the northeastern state of Maine which cares for retired circus elephants, was killed when one of the animals stepped on him.

Police said they found James Laurita (56) unresponsive in the barn at the foundation in Hope, northeast of Portland.

Laurita appeared to have fallen before one of the foundation's two elephants apparently stepped on him.